Commuting from boston to framingham/westborough (Cambridge: apartment, neighborhood, living in)

[need2kno]

I'm new to MA, just moved here from New Jersey for work and I can't figure out where to live. I'm really in favor of city living rather than the metro west area of boston. I want to know if anyone has experience in commuting by car from boston to framingham/natick/westborough, is there a lot of traffic? whats the best route?

I know about the tolls, I just want to know if there's a lot of traffic before I start work. Thanks in advance for help!

[eastcoastlady]

You can commute to Framingham from Boston. It takes about 20-30 min on the Mass Pike (I-90) There is traffic, but it moves pretty fast except at the pesky tolls. You would be doing the reverse commute. It is much worse the other way. You can sit in your westbound lane in the morning and be glad you aren't on the eastbound side!
If your job has a little flexibility and you can come in earlier or later that will help. Its worst between 8 and 9am.
Personally, I wouldn't do it. But I really hate driving. It will cost a lot of money in the long run when you think about tolls, gas and parking in Boston. Rather, I would live somewhere in between where you can have a driveway. But I understand the lure of living in the city.

[HowGoesIt]

The commute is very doable. Probably just under 30 minutes each way. The hardest part is finding an apartment with a parking spot in the city. Street parking in Boston is very difficult. I did it for years, but had my car broken into numerous times (I lived in Kenmore Sq and Cambridgeport). Also, I would recommend living in a neighborhood close to the Mass Pike, like Allston, Cambridgeport, or even Bay Village.